Advertise on podcast: Creative Characters

This week, host Dan Rhatigan talks with NYC-based identity designer and type researcher Raven Mo. Raven studies cultural essentialism in typography and dives into her research on chop suey fonts—a Latin style of letterform that is meant to visually signal "Chineseness"—and why they are problematic. Raven and Dan also discuss multilingual typography, the importance of local expertise, and why translation alone doesn't make a design resonate. Check out Raven's work at ravenmo.info or follow her on Instagram @ravenmodesign.  You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/resources/podcast.

This week, host Dan Rhatigan catches up with Felipe Casaprima and Álvaro Franca of Barcelona-based Naipe Foundry. Felipe and Álvaro met while studying typography in Rio de Janeiro and launched Naipe in 2018 with a goal of telling Brazilian stories through type. The two tell the story behind their retail font that's inspired by stone-carved letters at São Paulo's Pacaembu stadium; share how they built the foundry across continents and time zones; and discuss how community and collaboration have helped their foundry grow. Check out Naipe's work at https://naipefoundry.com You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast

This week, host Graham Sturt sits down with Jim Sutherland to talk about London-based Studio Sutherl&—a design practice built on ideas, collaboration, and joy. Jim explains why he avoids a fixed house style, why discomfort can lead to better outcomes, and how a spontaneous trip to Wales led to his involvement in MTTR, a sustainable denim brand. Follow Jim's work at https://studio-sutherland.co.uk or on Instagram @studio_sutherland.

In this episode, we enter the world of serial tinkerer, Matt Holmes. A world where printing presses are rebuilt with 3D-printed parts and the finer points of typography are mastered through the trial and error of making physical type. Tune in for a conversation about curiosity, experimentation, and why learning sometimes works best when we slow down and make things with our hands. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast

This week, Graham Sturt sits down with legendary British designer Ben Kelly to explore the ideas, collaborations, and creative philosophy behind a career that has shaped British design culture. From the iconic Hacienda nightclub to museums, exhibitions, and public spaces, Ben reflects on designing for longevity rather than fashion, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and why context is the starting point for great design. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast.

What if design tools helped you make smarter design decisions? This week, Dan Rhatigan talks with Typogram co-founders Hua Shu and Wenting Zhang about typography, side projects, AI, and the thrill of building tools for other creatives. Hua and Wenting share how New York's visual landscape shaped their love of type, how experimental side projects led them to entrepreneurship, and why publishing imperfect ideas can open unexpected doors. They also dig into Typogram's two design tools: Typogram, a guided branding tool for non-designers, and Typogram Studio, a typography-first tool built for designers who want to explore the hidden richness inside fonts. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, craft, and what happens when designers build the tools they wish existed. As a special thank-you for listening, we're giving away a mystery font pack. Inside, you'll get three premium font families to use for commercial projects. All for free. Claim yours at https://typogram.co/launch. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast.

In this episode, Tom Foley speaks with Pentagram Partner Hugh Miller about creativity, collaboration, and the experiences that shape a design career.   From music and typography to sketchbooks, record sleeves, and creative partnerships, Hugh reflects on the importance of self-critique, surrounding yourself with people who push you, and why great ideas rarely come from the first solution. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

What happens to creativity when designers are expected to work faster? In this episode, host Phil Garnham speaks with Barcelona-based designer and typographer Marta Cerdà Alimbau about the growing tension between speed, technology, and creating meaningful design work. Known for blending typography and illustration into expressive visual systems for global brands like Vogue, Nike, and The New York Times, Marta reflects on why doubt, memory, craft, and process still matter in an era shaped by automation and AI. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

What does it take to bring a Pixar film to life for audiences around the world? In this episode, host Bill Connolly sits down with John Trauscht, Senior Graphic Designer at Pixar Animation Studios, to explore the craft behind adapting films for global audiences and the creative mindset that makes it all possible. From designing band posters to shaping global Pixar films, John's career has been consistently artistic but not exactly linear. He shares how collaboration, critique, and "creative surfing" help bring stories to life across languages and why humans are still central to storytelling. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

What happens when your creative partner is also your identical twin? In this episode, The Stone Twins—Garech and Declan Stone—share how a lifelong relationship built on trust, honesty, and a bit of friction fuels their work. From their upbringing in Dublin to building a studio in Amsterdam, they reflect on why competing ideas often lead to stronger outcomes and why, in a fast-moving industry, original thinking and human perspective matter more than ever. The Stone Twins also unpack their unique approach to branding, from shaping the identity of Amsterdam's A'DAM Tower to turning an Irish postage stamp into a storytelling platform, all while making the case for craft, clarity, and creating work people talk about. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

What makes something easy — or frustrating — to read? In this episode, typeface legibility expert Sofie Beier shares an introduction to legibility and readability from a designer's point of view. Sofie and host Terrance Weinzierl discuss common legibility myths, how typeface designers should plan for legibility, and some real-world consequences of poor legibility and readability. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

This week we're joined by the dynamic duo of Ilana Griffo and Katie Johnson. They're creatives, co-owners of Goodtype, and co-authors of a new book, Follow Your Art: Uncover and Unleash Your Creative Voice. With a community of 1 million on Instagram — as well as digital courses and events IRL — Goodtype is a resource for type lovers, artists, and designers to connect and learn.  Katie and Ilana are obsessed with helping creatives find their unique voice. In this episode, they open up about their own creative voices and share strategies to help you find yours. Follow Your Art: Uncover and Unleash Your Creative Voice comes out March 17. You can pre-order it here: https://goodtype.us/follow-your-art-book To explore the Goodtype community, or to check out Ilana and Katie's work, head to goodtype.us or follow them on Instagram at goodtype. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

In this episode, host Kelci Elliott sits down with Magdalena Arasanz, co-founder of W Type Foundry, to talk about falling unexpectedly in love with type, building a creative business from scratch, and what it really takes to turn design obsession into momentum. From quirky experimental fonts and the story behind their playful typeface "Puffy" to navigating the business side of running a foundry, Magdalena shares a candid, energizing look at creativity, risk, and growth. Tune in to uncover the moments that sparked transformation and the ideas that continue to fuel Magdalena's journey.  To check out work from Magdalena and WTF, head to wtypefoundry.com,  MyFonts.com, or follow them on Instagram at wtypefoundry.  You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

New York-born Max Phillips has been drawing letters for money since he was a teenager. But his path to full-time type design was a bit circuitous — and even involves a stint as a novelist. Join us as Max, founder of Dublin-based Signal Type, waxes poetically about designing typefaces. He shares the creative process behind his diverse library; how Hermann Zapf has influenced him; and the delicate balance between crafting bold faces to amuse yourself and making versatile fonts for the design world. Check out the newly expanded version of Max's Reckham family from Signal Type on MyFonts and Monotype Fonts. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

This week, we travel to Thailand to hear the story behind Cadson Demak, the Bangkok-based type foundry and design studio that has been shaping the landscape of Thai typography and design for 25 years. Host Dan Rhatigan chats with Founding Partner Anuthin Wongsunkakon and Senior Type Designer Nalat Jaturapattarapong about how their foundry and studio have influenced Thai type culture, moving from a time when fonts were undervalued to building a thriving industry. They discuss the complexities of the Thai script, the evolution of the design industry in Thailand, and their pivotal role in educating designers and creating infrastructure for the industry. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.